Quality TV on DVD - Related Image

Quality TV on DVD - Related Image

Quality TV on DVD - Related Image

I still can't believe that I didn't watch this absolutely hilarious show when it first came on television. I think I let the title influence my decision as to whether I should watch the show. As soon as I started watching this program, it quickly became a favourite and its one of the few shows that I make an attempt to watch each week.

As with the first two seasons, season three is very good as the 23 episodes involving smart and geeky Leonard (Johnny Galecki), Sheldon (Jim Parsons), Howard (Simon Helberg) and Rajesh (Kunal Nayyar) along with Penny (Kaley Cuoco) provides lots of laughs. The season begins with Sheldon, Leonard, Howard and Rajesh returning home after spending months in the Arctic where Sheldon was deceived and his work compromised.

Other interesting developments in season three include Rajesh working for Sheldon to avoid deportation, Sheldon and Howard bet on the species of a cricket they hear, Leonard's mother visits at Christmas, Leonard and Sheldon's apartment is robbed... and we learn what happened to the out-of-order elevator!

House M.D.: Season Six (Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Blu-ray, 5 discs)

Many TV shows fortunate to stay on television for six seasons experience a decline in quality. Keeping a show fresh and interesting for so many episodes, without jumping the shark, must be extremely difficult. House M.D. has just started its seventh season and its still very well done. I just watched tthe sixth season now available and it was excellent.

Lots happens in season six which begins with Dr. House (Hugh Laurie) checking into a psychiatric hospital so his hallucinations and drug addiction can be dealt with. It's not long after checking in that House wants to check out and he's more than willing to cause chaos to achieve his goal. There is little chance of this happening while his doctor is Dr. Darryl Nolan (played by Andre Braugher who is excellent in this role).

This two hour first episode (closer to 90 minutes without the commercials) brought in numerous interesting characters who were patients in the hospital with House.

Season six also sees House's team of doctors deal with trying to save a dictator who has committed crimes against humanity, House gets his medical license back - and his team of doctors, Dr. Cameron (Jennifer Morrison) leaves and Dr. Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard) dates his ex-wife.

Season six ends the way it began - with an exceptional episode. The season finale has Dr. Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein) and House responding to a large-scale tragedy.

House M.D.: Season Six on Blu-ray contains 5 discs and all 21 episodes for more than 16 hours of entertaining TV. Lots of special features are also included in the collection.

Modern Family: The Complete First Season (Fox Home Entertainment, 4 discs, rated PG)

Another show that I didn't watch during its first season is Modern Family. After hearing how funny it was I decided to give it a try. The first time I saw the show on DVD I watched 7 or 8 episodes. What a funny, well-written show with a good cast that includes Ed O'Neill as Jay Pritchett, his wife played by Sofia Vergana and his grown children played by Julie Bowen and Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Jay has married a much younger woman and has a stepson. His daughter is married with three children and his son, who is gay, and his partner have just adopted a baby.

Episode one does a good job introducing you to the various characters and their personalities. The show addresses many issues including multi-cultural relationships, same sex marriage and adoption. Every episode that I've seen has been very funny - particularly the episode "Fizbo" where Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) dresses up as a clown for a birthday party.

Winner of 6 Emmy Awards (and nominated for many others), this is a "must see" show for those who enjoy a good sitcom.

All 24 season one episodes are on 4 discs as well as lots of special features including deleted and alternate scenes, Fizbo the Clown, Making of Modern Family and much more.

Love Hate & Propaganda (Entertainment One, 4 discs, rated PG)

History is important, especially when it pertains to things like war. Love Hate & Propaganda is an excellent 6-hour series that looks at World War II and how propaganda played a large part in the tragedies that occurred.

"Episode 1: The 1930's: The Strongmen" looks at Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Joseph Stalin and Emperor Hirohito of Japan and how they used propaganda to gain control over their citizens.

"Episode 2: 1939-1940: Selling War" addresses how Hitler and his propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels use propaganda to sell their citizens on the idea of war.

Episodes 3 to 6 look at a variety of things pertaining to WWII including Germany's attack on Russia, D-Day, how the Nazis tried to keep their "mass extermination" of the Jews secret, the Allies remove the Nazis from France and the dropping of the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

This impressive documentary looks at the psychology of war and how millions of people can be led - and misled.

The fourth disc contains over three hours of special features. You hope to learn from your mistakes and this documentary is a good reminder of how evil our species can be and how, through propaganda and fear, people can do horrible things.

The documentary is presented by George Stroumboulopoulos who does an excellent job presenting the information. There is lots of historical footage throughout the series including "newly available films and archival material" from Russia and China.

Love Hate & Propaganda is an important documentary and it would make an excellent addition to a school's curriculum. It is also a good series for families to watch.